Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Zheng Zeguang paid the second visit of his tenure to Northern Ireland at the beginning of May, meeting with First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly on May 1.
O’Neill is a leading member of Sinn Féin and the first nationalist and republican to serve as First Minister. Emma Little-Pengelly belongs to Northern Ireland’s second largest party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
According to the Chinese Embassy in London, the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on further developing the friendship and cooperation between China and Northern Ireland.
Ambassador Zheng congratulated the two major political parties in Northern Ireland on successfully forming a new Northern Ireland Executive and introduced China’s economic and social development.
China’s economy grew by 5.2% last year and expanded by 5.3% in the first quarter of this year. Facts show that the fundamentals of China’s economy stay unchanged and will not change in the future. This will continue to provide more opportunities for practical cooperation in various fields between China and Northern Ireland.
He noted that local cooperation is an important foundation for state-to-state relations. China appreciates Northern Ireland’s long-standing commitment to exchanges and cooperation with China. Collaboration between the two sides in fields such as business, trade, education, culture, and tourism have yielded fruitful outcomes.
Northern Ireland enjoys excellent natural conditions and great potentials for development. China encourages Chinese businesses, students, and tourists to invest, study, and travel in Northern Ireland and welcomes more Northern Ireland investment, quality products and students in China.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly welcomed Ambassador Zheng on his second visit to Northern Ireland. They said that the Northern Ireland government attaches importance to developing its relationship with China.
In recent years, Northern Ireland and China had close cooperation in business, trade, education, agriculture, and tourism, bringing tangible benefits to both sides. Northern Ireland welcomes more Chinese investments, supports broader education collaboration between universities in Northern Ireland and China, welcomes Chinese students and tourists to study and vacation in Northern Ireland, and hopes to strengthen personnel exchanges and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China.
The same day, Ambassador Zheng Zeguang attended and addressed the first China-UK/Northern Ireland Education Cooperation Forum held at Ulster University in Belfast at invitation and delivered a keynote speech titled “Openness and cooperation is the right way forward.”
Over the 75 years since the founding of New China, he said, great accomplishments have been achieved in education. China has put in place the world’s largest education system, with more than 510,000 education institutions of different types at all levels, 293 million university, secondary and primary school students, and more than 18.8 million full-time teachers. The popularity of China’s basic education at different stages has reached or exceeded the OECD [a grouping of mostly developed countries] average and China is now upgrading its higher education to achieve greater quality. Education advancement has in turn accelerated technological innovation. By the end of 2023, China owned close to five million valid invention patents, ranking first in the world.
In recent years, however, there have been constant noises from some politicians in the West, using “national security” as an excuse to push for “decoupling” of economies, severing of industrial and supply chains, and creation of “small yards with high fences”, while pointing fingers at China and obstructing exchanges and collaboration. This must be firmly rejected. Facts have and will continue to prove that China-UK educational collaboration is mutually beneficial and has broad prospects.
Dr Colin Davidson, Chancellor of Ulster University, said that his university is proud of its extensive collaboration with universities such as Hubei Normal University and the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. It is committed to building a sustainable future for the world and will continue to work with its Chinese partners to deepen cooperation in culture, education and scientific research towards shared goals.
The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Embassy in London.
Ambassador Zheng Zeguang meets with First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of Northern Ireland
May 3 (Chinese Embassy in the UK) — On 1 May 2024, during his visit to Northern Ireland, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang met with First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of Northern Ireland.
The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on further developing the friendship and cooperation between China and Northern Ireland.
Ambassador Zheng congratulated the two major political parties in Northern Ireland on successfully forming a new Northern Ireland Executive, and introduced China’s economic and social development.
Ambassador Zheng said that China, committed to modernisation through a Chinese path, is striving for high-quality development, faster growth of new quality productive forces, greater domestic demand, and opening up at a higher level.
China’s economy grew by 5.2% last year and expanded by 5.3% in the first quarter of this year. Facts show that the fundamentals of China’s economy stay unchanged and will not change in the future. This will continue to provide more opportunities for practical cooperation in various fields between China and Northern Ireland.
Ambassador Zheng noted that local cooperation is an important foundation for state-to-state relations. China appreciates Northern Ireland’s long-standing commitment to exchanges and cooperation with China. Collaboration between the two sides in fields such as business, trade, education, culture, and tourism have yielded fruitful outcomes.
Northern Ireland enjoys excellent natural conditions and great potentials for development. China encourages Chinese businesses, students, and tourists to invest, study, and travel in Northern Ireland and welcomes more Northern Ireland investment, quality products and students in China.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly welcomed Ambassador Zheng on his second visit to Northern Ireland. They said that the Northern Ireland government attaches importance to developing its relationship with China.
In recent years, Northern Ireland and China had close cooperation in business, trade, education, agriculture, and tourism, bringing tangible benefits to both sides. Northern Ireland welcomes more Chinese investments, supports broader education collaboration between universities in Northern Ireland and China, welcomes Chinese students and tourists to study and vacation in Northern Ireland, and hopes to strengthen personnel exchanges and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China.
They wish the China-UK/Northern Ireland Education Cooperation Forum to be held on the day full success.
The meeting was also attended by Chinese Consul General in Belfast Zhang Meifang, and Counsellor for Political Affairs Kong Xiangwen.
Ambassador Zheng Zeguang attended the first China-UK/Northern Ireland Education Cooperation Forum and delivered a keynote speech
May 4 (Chinese Embassy in the UK) — On 1 May 2024, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang attended and addressed the first China-UK/Northern Ireland Education Cooperation Forum held at Ulster University in Belfast at invitation and delivered a keynote speech titled “Openness and cooperation is the right way forward”.
Ambassador Zheng commended Ulster University for itsstrong sense of openness and fully recognised its fruitful cooperation with Hubei Normal University, the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts and other Chinese institutions.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out thatitis China’s long-standing tradition to value education and respect teachers, and that education has always been a priority for the Chinese government. Over the 75 years since the founding of New China, great accomplishments have been achievedon education. China has put in place the world’s largest education system, with more than 510,000 education institutions of different types at all levels, 293 million university, secondary and primary school students, and more than 18.8 million full-time teachers. The popularity of China’s basic education at different stages has reached or exceeded the OECD average, and China is now upgrading its higher education to greater quality. Education advancement has in turn accelerated technological innovation. By the end of 2023, China owned close to 5 million valid invention patents, ranking first in the world. China’s total input in R&D and investment in the high-tech sector has been growing at double-digit rates for several years running. China now has around 400,000 high-tech enterprises and ranks second globally in the number of unicorn companies.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that China is taking concrete steps to promote high-quality development and accelerate the creation of new-quality productive forces. In this process, China is further prioritising education, science and technology, and talent cultivation. China remains committed to openness and international exchanges in education. China has carried out educational exchanges with more than 180 countries, signed agreements on mutual recognition of qualifications and academic degrees with 58 countries and regions. 85 countries have incorporated Chinese language teaching into their national education curricula, and more than 30 million people outside of China are studying the language.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that the world today is undergoing deep transformation and increasing volatility, humanity is facing multiple common challenges, and a new round of industrial and technological revolution is unfolding at pace. Now more than ever, countries need to enhance education cooperation, work together to cultivate more talent with a global vision, and find solutions to common challenges. In recent years, however, there have been constant noises against it from some politicians in the West, using “national security” as an excuse to push for “decoupling” of economies, severing of industrial and supply chains, and creation of small yards with high fences, while pointing fingers at China and obstructing exchanges and collaboration. This must be firmly rejected. Facts have and will continue to prove that China-UK educational collaboration is mutually beneficial and has broad prospects. China is committed to a steady and mutually beneficial China-UK relationship on the basis of mutual respect and equality. It is hoped that people from all walks of life in both countries will not be swayed by noises or disturbed by obstructions, and will continue to promote mutual learning and mutually beneficial collaboration between the two countries. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK will, as always, provide support and facilitation for UK’s educational exchanges and collaboration with China.
Dr Colin Davidson, Chancellor of Ulster University, said that Ulster is proud of its extensive collaboration with universities such as Hubei Normal University and the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. It is committed to building a sustainable future for the world and will continue to work with its Chinese partners to deepen cooperation in culture, education and scientific research towards shared goals.
Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Mr Edwin Poots, Consul General of China in Belfast Ms Zhang Meifang, and President of Hubei Normal University Professor Lei Rujin also delivered remarks. The event was attended by around 200 people, including Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast Professor Alastair Adair, and Minister Counsellor for EducationMs Zhang Jin,Minister Counsellor for Press and Public Affairs Mr Bi Haibo, and Political CounsellorMr Kong Xiangwen at the Chinese Embassy, as well as representatives from cities and counties and headteachers from primary and secondary schools in Northern Ireland. Chinese and British students presentedfantastic cultural and artistic programmes with ethnic characteristics.
During the Forum, Ambassador Zheng and Chancellor Davidson witnessed the signing of an agreement between Hubei Normal University and Ulster University to establish a Centre for Education, Culture and Language Exchange andjointly unveiled the plagued of the Centre.
